Mr. Shannon to Mr.
Foster.
Legation of the United States,
Costa Rica, Nicaragua
and Salvador,
Santa Tecla,
Salvador, January 3, 1893.
(Receivecl February 10.)
No. 270.]Sir: Referring again to your No. 111 of
November 3, 1892, I have the honor to report that on the 19th ultimo,
the day following my arrival at San Salvador, I had my first
conversation with Dr. Sol, the under secretary of state for foreign
affairs, in regard to the Myers case,
[Page 177]
and I was told that my last two notes on the
subject had been translated, and were all ready for consideration by the
new minister for foreign affairs as soon as he should enter upon his
duties.
On the 21st ultimo I had a fuller conversation with Dr. Sol upon the
subject, and he expressed himself as very desirous of seeing a prompt
and final settlement of the question, declaring that so far as he was
concerned everything would be done to facilitate that result. He then
showed me a telegram from Dr. Morales, the new minister for foreign
affairs, appointing the 24th ultimo for my conference with him at the
foreign office. On that day, however, I did not have the pleasure of
meeting Dr. Morales at the foreign office, as expected; but soon after
my call he came to see me at my hotel.
I found him a most agreeable gentleman, full of pleasant reminiscences of
his life at Washington two years ago, and recalling with much evident
satisfaction the agreeable personal relations he then had with
yourself.
It seems he had not yet entered formally upon his duties and so had not
examined the papers in the Myers case; but he had already conversed with
the President about the matter, and he proposed, as soon as possible, to
give it his careful attention.
It was finally agreed that we should have another conference a few days
later, thus allowing him the necessary time to go over the
correspondence and consider the question.
On the 27th ultimo I received official notice that Dr. Morales had the
day before entered upon his duties as minister for foreign affairs, and
on the 28th ultimo we had our second conference, during which reference
was made to the correspondence that had been carried on during the past
year, and each expressed his views regarding the merits of the case.
Finally I made a suggestion as to the amount of indemnity, more or less,
that would probably be acceptable to my Government. Dr. Morales then
inquired if, in mentioning amounts, I meant “American gold,” and I
replied that I did. He thereupon said he would at once confer with his
excellency the President, and see me again the next day.
On the following day, the 29th, we met again, and while we were observing
the troops at drill on the reviewing ground with the President and
others, Dr. Morales informed me that he was authorized to offer me the
sum of $2,500, United States gold, as a compensation in full and final
settlement of the Myers claim. I at once accepted the offer.
Afterwards we had some conversation as to the form of the notes to be
exchanged between us embodying the terms of the settlement.
On the 31st ultimo I received a note from Dr. Morales, under date of the
28th ultimo, in answer to my own note of the 26th of November to his
predecessor, expressing entire willingness to personally confer with me
whenever I desired upon the subject of the final settlement of the Myers
claim.
I replied at once, and in the course of my note stated the result of our
final conference, which had taken place two days before, and asked him
to confirm my statement of the agreement reached, if found correct. This
he did in a note of to-day’s date, and which he handed to me himself
this evening when lie came to take leave of me. After I had read the
note through, he remarked that as there had not been time to arrange for
the draft before my departure, it would be sent to me by the following
steamer.
[Page 178]
Copies of the correspondence exchanged upon this subject are herewith
respectfully submitted.
It is now my intention to set out for the coast to-morrow morning and
sail on the steamer of the 5th instant for Corinto. Unless I take that
steamer I shall be delayed here till nearly the end of the month.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No.
270.—Translation.]
Señor Morales
to Mr. Shannon.
Ministry for
Foreign Affairs,
National
Palace
San
Salvador, December 28, 1892.
Mr. Minister: I have before me the
courteous note addressed by your excellency to my predecessor, Dr.
Don Salvador Galleges, under date of the 26th ultimo, in which,
referring to the note of the latter, your excellency is good enough
to communicate the view entertained by your Government regarding the
unfortunate affair of the ex-consul, Mr. Myers, and particularly
with regard to the mode of determining the amount of the indemnity
under discussion, a view very different from that held by Señor
Gallegos; and in conclusion your excellency expresses the confidence
of your Government that a personal conference between your
excellency and the minister for foreign affairs would lead to a
prompt settlement of the matter satisfactory to both
governments.
The undersigned will consider it an honor to personally confer with
your excellency upon this subject, and gladly accepts the idea
suggested. Judging by the conferences already held of a purely
private character, as well as by the conversations in which the case
of Mr. Myers has been casually referred to, the undersigned also
believes it possible to come to a full agreement with your
excellency regarding a final settlement of the matter that will be
satisfactory to both governments.
It is for this reason that the undersigned abstains from entering
upon any examination of the views which your excellency has been
good enough to express, in the name of your Government, relative to
the various phases of the question, feeling sure that this can be
more easily done in the proposed conferences.
The undersigned will have the honor to receive your excellency in
this ministry whenever disposed to appear, and in conclusion begs to
renew to your excellency the assurances, etc.
[Inclosure 2 in No.
270.]
Mr. Shannon to
Señor Morales.
Legation of the United States,
San Salvador, December 31, 1892.
Mr. Minister. I have the honor to
acknowledge receipt this day of the courteous note of your
excellency of the 28th instant, in which reference is made to the
several informal conversations we have already had relative to the
claim for damages in the case of Henry R. Myers, late consul of the
United States at this capital, and in which note your excellency
also kindly expresses a willingness to confer still further with me
upon the subject in the hope of reaching a settlement of the
question that will be mutually satisfactory to both governments.
The conference which we held on the 29th instant finally resulted in
the agreement that your excellency, on behalf of the Government of
Salvador, should pay to the Government of the United States the sum
of $2,500, American gold, and that I, on behalf of the Government of
the United States, should accept that sum as a compensation in full,
for the loss and destruction of the property of the U. S.
Government, and of the private property of its consul, Mr. Henry R.
Myers, as well as for the personal sufferings experienced by the
latter during the events of July, 1890, when the U. S. consulate at
San Salvador was occupied by the military forces of the Provisional
Government.
Respectfully asking that your excellency will be good enough to
confirm this statement of our agreement, if found correct, I beg
again to renew the assurances, etc.
[Page 179]
Inclosure 3 in No.
270.—Translation.]
Señor Morales
to Mr. Shannon.
Republic of
Salvador, Ministry for Foreign Affairs,
National
Palace
San
Salvador, January 3, 1893.
Mr. Minister: The courteous note which your
excellency was good enough to send me on the 31st ultimo, in reply
to my own note of the 28th ultimo, has been received at this
ministry.
In that note your excellency states the terms of the settlement in
the case of the ex-consul of the United States, Mr. Henry Myers, as
finally agreed to in our conference of the 29th ultimo, and which
were as follows: The undersigned, in the name of the Government of
Salvador, to pay to the Government of the United States the sum of
$2,500, American gold; and your excellency, on behalf of the
Government of the United States, to accept that sum as a full
compensation for the property destroyed, whether belonging to the
Government of the United States or the private property of Mr.
Myers, as well as for the personal sufferings alleged to have been
experienced by the latter during the events of July, 1890, when the
consulate of the United States at San Salvador was occupied by the
military forces of the Provisional Government.
In obedience to instructions received from my Government, I have the
honor to inform your excellency that the agreement reached in our
conference on the 29th ultimo, and formulated as above in the
communication to which this note is a reply, has been accepted by
the Government of Salvador, which is gratified to see the end of
this unfortunate affair.
It is my duty, however, in obedience to those same instructions, to
declare, as I have already verbally stated to your excellency in our
conference above referred to, that by this agreement my Government
does not intend to establish a precedent in favor of the Government
of your excellency, nor of any other; nor to abandon the ground
maintained by my predecessor, the Hon. Señor Gallegos, during the
discussion; but that your excellency is to consider it as a new
proof which Salvador is pleased to give to the United States of that
spirit of cordial friendship by which it is animated in all matters
that can affect the maintenance and development of the good
relations existing between both countries.
The undersigned takes the liberty of hoping that your excellency will
be good enough to so communicate it to your Government, and at the
same time begs to inform your excellency that a draft will be
promply remitted for the amount mentioned in favor of the honorable
Secretary of State of the United States. The undersigned has already
communicated with his colleague, the Secretary of the Treasury, who
will make the necessary financial arrangements to carry into effect
the result of this negotiation.
It only remains for me to express to your excellency my best wishes
for the new year, and to again renew, etc.
